Five great walking routes in County Durham

However, there are a few exceptions to the rule and people can leave their homes to get some outdoor exercise.

Luckily, there are some fantastic walking routes in County Durham; following them will keep you active and also let you explore places in the region you might not have visited before.

You can embark on these walks solo, with people you live with, or you can meet up with one other person from another household.

So wrap up warm and put your walking boots on, because here are five walking routes to embark on during this autumn lockdown:

Frosterley, Bishop Auckland

Durham City Ramblers are a walking group who have embarked on most trails in the county.

A spokesperson from Durham City Ramblers said:  “It is difficult to select just one or two favourite routes from the wide range within County Durham.”

However, one place that proved particularly popular with their members was Frosterley.
 

Walking routes in this area were praised by the group for their “lovely moorland scenery and views.”

Harehope Quarry
(Photo: Geograph/Andrew Curtis)

One trail is five miles long and will take around 2.5 hours to complete- it starts at Frosterley Station.

During this walk, you will encounter a primitive Methodist chapel and even pass the historic Old Bridge House.

Another place on the route is Harehope Quarry which was once used as a limestone quarry in the early 1900s.

Woslingham circular walk

This walk will take you around three hours to complete and there are plenty of forest and woodland views to take in during the journey.

The route begins at the Demesne Mill parking area and takes you across the River Wear and over the railway bridge.

Also on the route is Friarside Farm and the ruined buildings of Wigside.

You can find the full route online.

Durham Heritage Coast Walk

Who says coastal walks are reserved for the summer months?

The Durham coastal footpath from Seaham to Crimdon is eleven miles long.

The clifftop views are breath-taking, especially on a clear day.

Blackhall rocks on the Durham Heritage Coast Walk

(Photo: Geograph/Mat Fascione)

However, if you tire of the sea views there is plenty of greenery to admire during the walk too.

On the route you will pass Easington Coillery, Castle Eden Dene and Blackhall.

You can find more information and route maps on the Durham Heritage Coast website.

North Ridge Walk, Lanchester

If you want to embark on a shorter and more manageable walk, then this walking route could be ideal for you.

The countryside trail is only around 3.5 miles long and could be completed in around an hour.

Starting at Lanchester Village Green, this route takes you past historic and listed buildings, such as The Lodge and Burnhopeside Hall.

You pass this church on the route

(Photo: Geograph/Michael.ely)

At the start of the walk, you will pass Lanchester All Saints Parish Church which dates back to the 12th century.

Also on the route is Black Wood which is believed to have been quarried by the Romans.

Stanhope, Bishop Auckland

There are a few different walking routes you could take in Stanhope, but the longest will take you around 1.5 hours.

During this walk, you can take in the beautiful countryside views and also visit some important buildings in the town’s lead mining history.

Starting off at The Weardale Railway’s Stanhope Station, you will travel past Unthank Mill and Stanhope Castle.

You will also pass the Wear Valley Railway Line during the walk, which was initially built to transport limestone to iron works on Teesside.

You can view the entire walking route on the Durham.Gov website.